The Gulabi Gang

The Gulabi Gang, India

It’s the colour of pink that’s calling the shots in this dusty region of Bundelkhand, one of the poorest parts of one of India’s northern and most populous states, Uttar Pradesh in India. A gang of vigilantes, called the Gulabi Gang (pink gang) – its 10,000 strong women members wear only pink sarees – is taking up lathi (traditional Indian stick) against domestic violence and corruption. Almost two year old, this group faces various cases of unlawful assembly, rioting, attacking a government employee and obstructing discharge of duty, but the 47-year-old leader of the Pink Gang, Sampat Pal Devi is a fiesty woman who is undeterred by the cases slapped on her and the gang.

The main role of the gang is to empower women, create awareness amongst the community, promote girl child education and stop corruption and domestic violence.

These few pictures talk of courage of women like Sampat Pal Devi and her members, their fight against injustice, and about standing up and fighting for one’s rights.

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